Solar Impulse is a Swiss solar-powered airplane that will endeavor to fly around the world-without fuel. After achieving the world's first solar night to day flight in 2010 and the first intercontinental flight connecting Switzerland to Morocco in 2012, a coast-to-coast flight across the United States is planned in the summer of 2013.

In honor of the two visiting pioneers piloting this innovative airplane, Bertrand Piccard and André Borschberg, swissnex San Francisco and the Consulate General of Switzerland are pleased to invite you to a reception and briefing on Solar Impulse.

Join them to learn how the Solar Impulse project is making leaps in new materials, energy and weight optimization, even production processes, and how it is setting new milestones in aviation history. All of that while serving as an ambassador of renewable energy

André Borschberg

An engineer by education and a graduate of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in management science, André Borschberg has solid experience in creating and managing companies, as well as in flying. His passion for aviation and his interest in innovative solutions have led him to team up with Bertrand Piccard to direct Solar Impulse and be one of the pilots who will fly right round the world in a solar aircraft.

Bertrand Piccard

Born into a dynasty of explorers and scientists who have conquered the heights and depths of our planet, Bertrand Piccard made the first ever non-stop round-the-world balloon fight. An internationally renowned psychiatrist, aeronaut and lecturer, chairman of the Winds of Hope charitable foundation, and a United Nations goodwill ambassador, he combines science and adventure in order tackle some of the great challenges of our times.

André Borschberg, CEO and co-founder of Solar Impulse, discusses the first test flights of the first solar-powered airplane. Despite early landing limitations, Borschberg declares that Solar Impulse is primed to soon fly around the world without fuel.